Ireland News and Discussions

[wjfox]

Republic of Ireland's population rises above 5 million for first time since the Famine

August 31, 2021

THE POPULATION of the Republic of Ireland has risen above 5 million for the first time since the Great Famine, new figures show.

There are now over 5 million people living in the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland, for the first time since 1851, the Central Statistics Office has revealed.

The Great Hunger of 1845-1852 saw one million people in Ireland die from starvation and exposure, with one million more emigrating-- many to the United States, where they established one of the strongest Irish communities in the world, with about 32 million Americans believed to be of Irish descent.

Ireland's population was devastated by the famine, and has never regained the numbers seen in the early 1800's, where 8.5 million people called the island home; the last Census put the island's population, north and south, at around 6.8 million people.

Now however, for the first time, the tides are beginning to turn, as the Republic's population has risen to over 5 million for the first time in almost 200 years.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that the Republic's current population is believed to be 5.1 million people, up from 4.97 million 12 months ago.

https://www.irishpost.com/news/republic ... ine-219184

[wjfox]

[wjfox]

Sinn Fein calls for united Ireland debate after historic election win

08-May-2022

Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), hailed its first victory in a Northern Ireland Assembly election as a "defining moment" for the British-controlled region and called for a debate on a united Ireland.

Sinn Fein was ahead of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) by 27 to 24 seats with two left to declare, making it the first Irish nationalist party to become the largest in the devolved assembly.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-05-08/S ... index.html

[Time_Traveller]

Plans for new 'living wage' to replace minimum wage

Tuesday, 14 Jun 2022

The Government has announced plans to replace the current minimum wage of €10.50 per hour with a new 'living wage' which will be phased in over four years starting next year.

The living wage will be set at 60% of the median wage in any given year which, in 2022, would be €12.17 an hour.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar will consult with various interested parties including employer and worker representative groups, unions and the wider public.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/06 ... ving-wage/

[Time_Traveller]

Leo Varadkar to become taoiseach as Micheál Martin steps down

17 December 2022, 00:14 GMT, Updated 4 minutes ago

Ireland will have a new taoiseach (prime minister) later as Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar swap roles.

Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Mr Varadkar takes over from Mr Martin as government leader, while Mr Martin becomes tánaiste.

The rotation of power was laid down in the coalition agreement of June 2020.

The deal brought together Mr Varadkar's Fine Gael party, Mr Martin's Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in a historic compromise.

Mr Varadkar, a qualified medical doctor, previously served as taoiseach and minister of defence from 2017 to 2020.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63945064

[Nanotechandmorefuture]

Now I see why politics encouraging diversity, pleseantries, and sometimes sexxed up culture like the 1960's & 70's is a thing. Between that and immigration it is an attempt not to lose people to tend to the land. Wow.

[weatheriscool]

Irish wind hits January high
https://renews.biz/83669/irish-wind-hits-january-high/
41% of the country’s power came from the renewable resource up 9% on the same month in 2022

30 June 2021

Irish wind farms had a strong start to the year with a new record for the most electricity ever produced in the month of January.

The January Wind Energy Report, published by Wind Energy Ireland, showed that 41% of the country’s power came from wind, up 9% on January 2022.

Wind farms produced 1479 gigawatt-hours of electricity last month, up 200GWh on the previous January best, and the seventh best month on record for wind power.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “This is a very strong start to the year and builds on a strong final quarter of 2022 when wind energy was Ireland’s number one source of electricity.

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

Far-right protesters burn and loot in Dublin in worst violence 'in decades

LONDON — Right-wing protesters angered by a stabbing attack they believed had involved someone of immigrant background rampaged through central Dublin on Thursday night, leaving behind a trail of burning destruction.
Ireland’s police chief on Friday described the unrest, in which double-decker buses, trams and police cars were torched, as “scenes that we have not seen in decades.”
The violence and looting through some of Dublin’s most famous streets began after a stabbing attack outside a school that left five people hospitalized. They included three young children and a woman. Police detained a man who also is being treated for injuries.
Rumors spread online that the perpetrator of the attack was an immigrant or had an immigrant background. The BBC, citing unnamed sources, said the man was an Irish citizen who had lived in the country for 20 years.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/20 ... -stabbing/

[Time_Traveller]

Leo Varadkar will not change his life despite 'real risk' from far-right

11:06, 1 JAN 2024

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted that he is “refusing to change his life” despite Garda Commissioner Drew Harris warning him that the “risk to his personal safety is real”.

He stated that he does “not believe it would be good for the country” if he became too wrapped up in a security bubble or stopped living a normal life. The Fine Gael leader said that he is “not going to give in” to the far right or other extremist groups who became more prevalent last year.

Mr Varadkar was asked if he has had to change his life, his routines and how much of his life he shares online. The Taoiseach admitted that Commissioner Harris has advised him that there are concerns about his safety and threats to him.

“To be honest, I've kind of refused to change my life,” Mr Varadkar admitted. “I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that the threat is higher and the risk to my personal safety is real.

“That is the case for other ministers too. You'll know the Garda Commissioner has taken the decision to extend Garda protection to all members of Cabinet, including the Chief Whip [Hildegarde Naughton] and Minister [Pippa] Hackett and Minister [Jack] Chambers.

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/leo-vara ... e-28372599

[Time_Traveller]

Leo Varadkar: Irish leader caps off legacy of firsts with shock departure

Wed 20 Mar 2024 17.12 GMT



When Leo Varadkar was a teenager on a school trip to Northern Ireland he smuggled fireworks back into the republic to set off some illicit bangs – but it is only now that he has sent a boom echoing across Ireland.

At the age of 45, Ireland’s youngest – and first gay, and first mixed race – taoiseach is stepping down.

Nobody saw it coming; not his party colleagues in Fine Gael, not his coalition colleagues in Fianna Fáil or the Greens, not the media. Yet there he stood on the steps of Government Buildings in Dublin on Wednesday making an emotional announcement, watched by shellshocked ministers and dumbfounded TV viewers.

“I believe this government can be re-elected,” he said. “I believe a new taoiseach will be better placed than me to achieve that – to renew and strengthen the top team, to refocus our message and policies, and to drive implementation. After seven years in office, I am no longer the best person for that job.”

He was resigning as leader of Fine Gael and will resign as taoiseach once a successor is named, he said. “My reasons for stepping down now are personal and political, but mainly political,” he said, without elaborating. Michael D Higgins, the president, apparently learned of his resignation just before the press conference.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... -departure

[Time_Traveller]

Simon Harris set to become new Fine Gael leader later

1 hour ago

Simon Harris is expected to become the new leader of Fine Gael.

Mr Harris, who is currently Ireland's minister for further and higher education, was the only candidate to seek the party leadership.

He is set to replace Leo Varadkar, who announced on Wednesday he was stepping down as party leader and taoiseach (Irish prime minister).

Nominations closed at 13:00 local time on Sunday.

He was the only candidate for the position at the close of nominations.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68639607

[Time_Traveller]

Simon Harris set to become new Fine Gael leader later

1 hour ago

Simon Harris is expected to become the new leader of Fine Gael.

Mr Harris, who is currently Ireland's minister for further and higher education, was the only candidate to seek the party leadership.

He is set to replace Leo Varadkar, who announced on Wednesday he was stepping down as party leader and taoiseach (Irish prime minister).

Nominations closed at 13:00 local time on Sunday.

He was the only candidate for the position at the close of nominations.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68639607

Simon Harris becomes Ireland's youngest prime minister at 37

Tuesday 9 April 2024 15:54, UK



Simon Harris has become the youngest premier in Ireland's history after meeting with President Michael D Higgins.

Earlier, Ireland's Dail, parliament's lower house, voted to approve the 37-year-old as their next taoiseach by 88 votes to 69.

Mr Harris's appointment - which came after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar last month - was confirmed during a ceremony with President Higgins at his official residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin.

Mr Varadkar, 45, tendered his official resignation to the president on Monday evening after saying his reasons for stepping down were "both personal and political".

Father-of-two Mr Harris was the only candidate to put his name forward in the Fine Gael leadership contest.

https://news.sky.com/story/simon-harris ... t-13111368

[Time_Traveller]

Ireland pledging emergency legislation to send asylum seekers back to UK in wake of Rwanda bill being passed

Sunday 28 April 2024 12:24, UK



Ireland is pledging emergency legislation enabling it to send asylum seekers back to the UK.

More than 80% of recent arrivals in the republic came via the land border with Northern Ireland, Irish justice minister Helen McEntee told a parliamentary committee last week.

Rishi Sunak told Sky News it showed the UK's Rwanda scheme was already working as a deterrent after it finally became law last week.

Ireland's deputy prime minister has said the threat of deportation to Rwanda is causing migrants to head for Ireland instead of the UK.

Micheal Martin said the policy was already affecting Ireland because people are "fearful" of staying in the UK.

https://news.sky.com/story/ireland-pled ... k-13124832

[firestar464]

You have to wonder why the protests are identity-based...

[Powers]

You have to wonder why the protests are identity-based...

*ethnicity-based

[Time_Traveller]

Big Mac v Supermac’s: McDonald’s loses EU trademark fight

Wed 5 Jun 2024 13.23 BST

The small Irish takeaway chain Supermac’s has won a David v Goliath court battle with McDonald’s over the use of the Big Mac trademark, paving the way for it to open outlets across Europe.

The ruling also means the US-founded fast food multinational has lost the right to use the name “Big Mac” in the EU in relation to chicken burgers.

The decision by the European court of justice (ECJ) ends a marathon 17-year legal fight by the Irish operator against its global rival. A Supermac’s spokesperson said the chain also had a similar case pending in the UK that, if successful, could lead to an expansion into the British market.

The legal tussle began in 2007, when Supermac’s tried to register its name in the EU as a trademark for restaurants, with a view to moving into the rest of Europe, prompting McDonald’s to oppose the application by Supermac’s as a name and a logo.

McDonald’s argued that the name was too similar to its Big Mac burgers and would cause confusion among customers, winning a partial victory in 2016, when Supermac’s was granted the trademark for its restaurant name but not for many items of food and drink.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... mark-fight

Wasn't really sure where to put this and a great fight for the smaller chain.

[firestar464]